Job Description

Python Backend Developer (AI Engineering)

Contract, Contract to Hire   |  In-person / Hybrid in Chicago or Atlanta

If you thrive on owning problems from first line of code to production deployment, this role was built for you. You will be at the center of a team building serious, production-grade AI backend systems that power enterprise workflows. This is not a maintenance role or a ticket-queue job. You will design APIs, shape data architecture, and drive integrations with major enterprise platforms, all with real ownership and real impact.

What you will be doing

• Design and build Python-based backend services that connect AI workflows to enterprise systems and cloud infrastructure
• Build integrations with ITSM, CRM, and other enterprise platforms using modern API patterns
• Implement data flows across cloud storage, databases, and data warehouses, including ETL/ELT pipeline design and schema architecture
• Work with managed cloud services including container orchestration, API gateways, and authentication systems
• Maintain and troubleshoot CI/CD pipelines and debug issues across application, network, and cloud layers
• Implement authentication and authorization patterns (OAuth 2.0, service principals, identity management) and support compliance requirements
• Instrument services with structured logging and monitoring to keep systems healthy and observable

What we are looking for

• 3+ years of professional Python backend development, with FastAPI or Flask experience
• Strong fundamentals in REST API design and async programming
• Hands-on cloud experience across compute, storage, databases, and managed services
• Proven experience integrating with third-party enterprise APIs such as ITSM or CRM platforms
• Working knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and Docker containerization
• Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code concepts
• Experience with OAuth 2.0, service principals, and identity management patterns
• Strong debugging instincts across both application and infrastructure layers

Bonus points if you have

• Experience deploying or working with LLMs in production environments
• Familiarity with conversational AI or virtual agent platforms
• Kubernetes or container orchestration experience
• Background with document processing pipelines
• Hands-on observability and monitoring tool experience
• Experience in enterprise IT environments with complex networked architectures